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Piping Requirements (note 1) Ancillary Equipment Requirements (see piping diagram)Meter Orientation Support Flow Conditioners

Upstream Downstream Pipe Pipe Wall Condition Concentricity Horizontal Vertical Sloping By-Pass As a As a Plate, Tube Other Strainer Air Block Transmitter Sensing IsolationPipe Length Pipe Length Material Thickness of Pipe ID of meter ID Piping Valve Pump or Honey- or Filter Eliminator Valves Location Piping Manifold

with pipe ID combNo. Category Type Note 2 Note 3 Note 4 Note 5 Note 6 Note 7 Note 8 Note 9 Note 10 Note 11 Note 12 Note 13 Note 14

OrificeVenturaFlow Nozzle

1 Differential Flow TubePressure Elbow

PitotAveraging PitotVACoriolis

2 Mass Thermal InsertThermal Meter BodyFluidic

3 Oscillatory Vortex PresessionVortex Shedding

4 Magnetic AC ExcitedPulse DC Excited

5 TurbineDop. Clamp-on

6 Ultrasonic Dop. Meter BodyToF Clamp-onToF Meter Body

7 Target8 Positive Displacement

The Essential Guide toFlowmeter Installation

Minimum pipe length (diameters): Before meter, 5; After meter, 2.

Power requirements: AC/DC battery.

Piping connections: Flanged, Victaulic, Dresser, Sanitary, Flangeless (wafer style) Note 4.

Type of measurement: Whole body. Insertion type is sampling.

Installation requirements: Some designs are bi-directional. Grounding is a function ofthe adjoining pipe material for most designs. Gaskets must not project into the flow. Thereare specific pipe support requirements for some designs. Note 10. Do not inject additivesimmediately upstream of the meter.

Orientation requirements: Larger sizes have an integral base support for installation ona slab at ground level.

Ancillary equipment requirements: None.

Standards or recommended practices ISO 6817.

Minimum pipe length (diameters): Before meter, 10; After meter, 5; Note 15.

Power requirements: None for most versions. AC/DC or battery used for RF signalsystems and accessories.

Piping connections: Flanged, Threaded Sanitary, Flangeless (wafer style) Note 4 and insertion.

Type of measurement: Whole body, insertion type is sampling.

Installation requirements: Locate meter as far as practical from flow disturbance.Strainers and flow conditioners must be specifically located; Varies with standards,recommended practices, and manufacturers. By-pass piping frequently recommended; it isessential for cryogenic applications. Clean piping before installing meter. Avoid abnormalpipe stresses at meter.

Orientation requirements: Some designs must be oriented as calibrated.

Ancillary equipment requirements: Flow conditioners and strainers or filters areusually required. A separator for condensate removal is recommended for gas flows.

Standards or recommended practices: AGA7, API 2534, API Manual for PetroleumManagement Standards, Chapter 5, Section 3, ISO 2715, ASME Fluid Meters.

Minimum pipe length (diameters): Before or after meter, none.

Power requirements: Basic versions do not require power, AD/DC or battery used foraccessories.

Piping connections: Flanged, threaded, sanitary.

Type of measurement: Whole body (true volumetric).

Installation requirements: Larger and heavier designs require base mounting. Housingshould not be subjected to undue pipe stress. By-pass piping may be required, especiallywhere blocked flow due to meter failure is not acceptable. Drip traps for wet gasapplications are recommended. Meters should be installed to allow draining to minimizedeposits forming on meter internals. Piping interior should be flushed before meter isinstalled.

Orientation requirements: Meters should not be at low point in the piping whereparticulate matter would accumulate. Meter should be level.

Ancillary equipment requirements: Strainers and air eliminators are generallyrecommended. Flow restricting orifices or flow limiting valves used where transient highlow rates are experienced. Air chambers or shock arrestor may also be recommended.

Standards or recommended practices: API-Chapter 5, Section 2, PD Meters: RP2535,Recommended Practice for Viscous Hydrocarbons: ASME Fluid Meters; ANSI: B109.1 andB109.2 for diaphragm type meters AGA 6; API 1101.

Fluidic Vortex Shedding Vortex Precession

Minimum pipe length Follow recommendations for 0.7 Beta Before meter, 10; After meter, 5. Before meter 3;(diameters): orifice meter. Varies with manufacturer. Note 15. After meter, 1.

Power requirements: AC/DC, 2-wire DC available. AC/DC, 2-wire DC , Battery power. AC/DC, 2 wire DC.

Piping connections: Flanged, flangeless (wafer style) Flanged, threaded, sanitary, weld ends,Note 4. flangeless (wafer style) Note 4. Flanged.

Type of measurement: Whole body by-pass larger than 4 inches. Whole body. Insertion type is sampling. Whole body.

Installation requirements: Pipe wall thickness should be specified. Gaskets should not protrude into flowGaskets must not project into stream; some designs require specificthe flow stream.. pipe inside diameter at meter entrance. None.

Orientation requirements: Horizontal plane is preferred. Some designs require specific orientation None.based on the type of application or operating temperature, Check manufacturer.

Ancillary equipment Flow conditioners are recommended for Flow conditioners are recommended for None.requirements persistent swirl profiles or jet flow profiles. persistent swirl profiles or jet flow profiles.

Standards or None. ASME.ANSI MFC 6M None. recommended practices ISO 12764.

Thermal Coriolis

Minimum pipe length Body type: Before meter, 10; Some designs require (diameters): After meter, 0. Insertion type: upstream straight pipe,

Before meter, 15; After meter, 5. refer to manufacturer.

Power requirements: AC/DC. AC/DC.

Piping connections: Flanged, threaded, sanitary. Flanged, threaded, sanitary.

Type of measurement: Whole body, by-pass, sampling. Whole body.

Installation In some insertion types, the Pipe supports must berequirements: sensor head must not touch located on adjoining pipe

the opposite pipe wall. and go to a common reference to minimize transferof pipe stress to the meter. Meters in series must be separated by 15 pipe diameters. Some designs are bidirectional. Isolate meters from flow and pump pulsations and minimize external vibrations.

Orientation Some types require installation Must be oriented so that anyrequirements: with the same orientation used gas bubbles or sediment do

during calibration. Insertion not collect in the measuringtypes will have orientation region of the meter.requirements that vary with Specific orientations allowtheir design. Some designs self-draining and vary withrequire insertion plane to be the meter design.parallel with flow plane to within ±2º.

Ancillary equipment None. Block valves arerequirements recommended to perform

zero adjustment with no flow.

Standards or ISO 14511. California Weights & recommended practices Standards Bureau PTB

ISO 10790.

Doppler (Dop.) Time of Flight (ToF)

Minimum pipe length Follow recommendations for a 0.7 Beta ratio Before meter, 10; After meter, 2.(diameters): orifice meter installation. Swirling and jet

flows must be avoided.

Power requirements: AC/DC battery. AC/DC

Piping connections: Usually non-invasive (clamp-on); meter body Flanged; non-invasive types are also available. (clamp-on) also available.

Type of measurement: Sampling. Sampling.

Installation Allow adequate upstream pipe length following a Allow adequate upstream pipe length torequirements: disturbance to assure a fully developed turbulent assure a fully developed turbulent

profile. Avoid severely vibrating pipe sections. Deposits profile. Clamp-on types are dependenton pipe ID may affect the meters ability to make on pipe material, pipe wall thicknessmeasurements. Clamp-on: Pipe material and or type and condition of pipe interior. of pipe lining may affect the measurement. Particle (bubble) velocity being sensed, so particles must be of uniform size, uniformly distributed, be of uniformmaterials, and have a velocity the same as the liquid.Meter location must be selected so there is adequate velocity to prevent particles from rising or settlingwhich introduces measurement errors.

Orientation Locate transducers so they look away None. requirements: from flow disturbances.

Ancillary equipment None. None.requirements

Standards or None. ANSI/ASME MFC-YY.recommended practices

For technical advice and further information on the ABB range

of flow products call:

0870 600 6122

Installation requirements recommendedfor good measurement

Installation requirements essential togood measurement Consult manufacturer Not a factor

1 Differential Pressure

2 Mass

3 Oscillatory 4 Magnetic 6 Ultrasonic5 Turbine

8 Positive Displacement

Minimum pipe length (diameters): Before meter, 6; After meter, 3.5. Note 15.

Power requirements: AC/DC or pneumatic.

Piping connections: Flanged, threaded, flangeless (wafer style), Note 4, and insertion.

Type of measurement: Whole body: insertion type is sampling.

Installation requirements: Some designs require specific pipe IDs at meter entrance.Gaskets should not protrude into flow stream.

Ancillary equipment requirements: Flow conditioners recommended for some flowprofiles to reduce upstream piping requirements. Strainers usually recommended.

PIPING NOTESFlow conditioner: includes conventional flow straighteners such as tube-bundles, plate or honeycomb types for swirl.For severely distorted flow profiles, jets, or persistent swirl patterns, proprietary flow conditioner designs arerecommended for example Sprenke, Zanker, Mitsubishi, Vortab.Flow Disturbance:(A) Includes pipe fittings for example elbows or tees, fabricated pipe bends and other fabricated pipe configurations,

equipment such as pumps, strainers and air eliminators, shut-off valves must be either fully opened or fully closed.Throttling valves must be located downstream of the meter (see Flow Disturbance B)

(B) Includes elbows, tees, and other pipe fittings as well as fabricated pipe bends or other fabricated pipe configurations,throttling or shut-off valves.

Flowmeter: Includes volumetric, velocity, and mass type flowmeters. Differential pressure types include all orificevariations; Venturis, flow nozzles, flow tubes, pitots, averaging pitots, and elbows, all of which require associated sensingpiping (impulse lines), a 3-valve manifold and a dp transmitter. The transmitter location relative to the dp producer, isdetermined by the type of fluid being measured (liquid, gas, or steam). Orientation is important for some types of meters.Some types of turbine meters, for example, are intended only for installation in horizontal piping; installation in sloping orvertical piping must be reviewed with the manufacturer. Pipe:(A) Included in the upstream piping requirements when a flow straightener or flow conditioner is used. Pipe size should

be the same as the meter size. Length is determined by Standards, Recommended Practices, or the Manufacturer’sSpecifications.

(B) Pipe size should be the same as the meter size. Pipe length is established by Standards, Recommended Practices, orManufacturer’s Specifications. The inside diameter of the pipe, and its condition may be important, concentricity ofthe pipe with the meter’s inside diameter may also be important. Gaskets must not protrude into the flow stream.

(C) Pipe size should be the same as the meter size. Pipe length is defined by Standards, Recommended Practices, orManufacturer’s Specifications.

Pipe Support: Type hanger (from above), or support (from below) is influenced by the type of flow meter being used.Some flowmeter types can accept piping induced line stresses, and are handled as just another concentrated mass. Sometypes of flow meters must be isolated from external stresses including piping induced stresses. These meters requirespecial care in the type and location of hangers/supports which are used. Although large and heavy meters include integralbase supports, associated hanger/support requirements must be considered to minimise (eliminate) transfer of stresses tothe flow meter housing.

7 Target

Orifice Venturi/Flow Nozzle Flow Tube Elbow Pitot/Averaging Pitot VA Meter

Minimum pipe length Concentric, eccentric, conical, quadrant Before meter, 6; After meter, 2. Note 15. Before meter, 4; After meter, none. Usually the same as a concentric Before meter, 7; After meter, 3; Note 15. None.(diameters): and segmental types: orifice.

Before plate 10; after plate 4. See Note 15.

Power requirements: DC or pneumatic. DC or pneumatic. DC or pneumatic. DC or pneumatic. DC or pneumatic. None.

Piping connections: Flanged, threaded, welded. Flanged, threaded, welded, insert, Flanged, insert. Flanged, welded. Insertion, hot tap. Flanged, threaded.

Type of measurement: Whole body. Concentric can be in a Whole body. Whole body. Whole body. Sampling. Whole body, by-pass.bypass configuration.

Installation requirements: Upstream pipe ID, circularity and The average diameter of the pipe at Types with manifolds which average local Bidirectional when pressure taps are at 45º, Some designs bi-directional. Locate to Meter must be vertical.roughness are important factors. the meter inlet should be within ± 1% pressure are recommended if less than Flow must enter end nearest pressure taps assure developed turbulent flow. Avoid piping 2 or more sizesUpstream pipe joints must be smooth of the meter diameter and the pipe desirable flow profiles are anticipated. when using 22.5º taps. Inside diameter of smaller than end connections.and gaskets must not project into the flow. roundness should not exceed 2% elbow at taps and the radius of the bend must

of nominal. Gaskets must not project be measured for the best results: Pipe ID andinto the flow. elbow ID must agree within 1%. Gaskets must

not project into flow.

Orientation requirements: Orifice plate inlet must face upstream. Pressure tap orientation depends upon None. None. Dependent on pipe orientation and type Must be vertical. The centerline of concentric orifice plates the pipe orientation and the fluid of fluid. Tube must be within ± 3% ofmust be the same centerline as that of the measured. flow direction (yaw), ± 5% of transversepipe. Plane of orifice must be perpendicular plane (pitch). And ± 3% of pipe centrelineto the centreline. Pressure tap orientation perpendicular to flow (roll).depends upon pipe orientation and the type of fluid being metered; see piping diagram.

Ancillary equipment Flow conditioners may be required when Flow conditioners may be required when Flow conditioners may be required when Flow conditioners may be required when Flow conditioners may be required when None.requirements upstream straight pipe is limited. upstream straight pipe is limited. upstream straight pipe is limited. upstream straight pipe is limited, low range for some applications , low range

Drain, vent and blowoff valves may be Shut-off valves are usually used at every differential pressure transmitter required. differential pressure transmitter required.needed. Shut off valves are usually. pressure tap location.used at each pressure tap location.

Standards or AGA 3, ANSI/API 2530, ANSI/ASME MFC 3M, ANSI/API 2530, ANSI/ASME MFC 3M, None. None. ISO 7174 (pitot). None. recommended practices ASME Fluid meters, ISO 5167, ASME fluid Meters, ISO 5167.

Shell Flowmeter engineering handbook.

Piping Requirements (note 1) Ancillary Equipment Requirements (see piping diagram)Meter Orientation Support Flow Conditioners

Upstream Downstream Pipe Pipe Wall Condition Concentricity Horizontal Vertical Sloping By-Pass As a As a Plate, Tube Other Strainer Air Block Transmitter Sensing IsolationPipe Length Pipe Length Material Thickness of Pipe ID of meter ID Piping Valve Pump or Honey- or Filter Eliminator Valves Location Piping Manifold

with pipe ID combNo. Category Type Note 2 Note 3 Note 4 Note 5 Note 6 Note 7 Note 8 Note 9 Note 10 Note 11 Note 12 Note 13 Note 14

OrificeVenturaFlow Nozzle

1 Differential Flow TubePressure Elbow

PitotAveraging PitotVACoriolis

2 Mass Thermal InsertThermal Meter BodyFluidic

3 Oscillatory Vortex PresessionVortex Shedding

4 Magnetic AC ExcitedPulse DC Excited

5 TurbineDop. Clamp-on

6 Ultrasonic Dop. Meter BodyToF Clamp-onToF Meter Body

7 Target8 Positive Displacement

Vertical PipingPreferred Flow up

Horizontal Piping - Side View(And sloping)

NOTES

Meter Principle

WP/FLWINS Issue 1 (03.04)

AdviseIT

AnalyzeIT

FieldIT

MeasureIT

OperateIT

OptimizeIT

1. When measuring liquids and slurries, pipe must be full. Flow through meters must be in the direction

marked on the meter body.

2. Includes straight length of pipe before a flow conditioner as well as that at the meter entrance:

see piping diagram.

3. Most meters prefer that the inside diameter of the upstream pipe be slightly greater than the meter inside

diameter. For some meters, such as orifice, the inside diameter should be precisely known.

4. Concentricity is important to many meters including orifice types. It is essential to all wafer-style meters

regardless of the operating principle. Wafer-style meters are either furnished with or recommend centering

devices which must be used. Gaskets must not protrude into the flow stream.

5. Horizontal is the most common orientation, but special care must be taken when measuring liquids which

have entrained gas or particles, and gases in which liquids are present. Some meters calibrated in the

horizontal will require installation in that orientation.

6. Preferred flow direction is up to assure a full pipe; this is mandatory in gravity feed systems

7. Sloping lines are generally handled as horizontal lines.

8. The criteria are whether flow will be able to pass through the meter if there is a meter failure, whether the

measurement is critical to the process or access to the meter, at any time, is important.

9. Many smaller meters are essentially another piece of pipe and can accept piping stresses. They are

considered in the piping system as concentrated mass.

10. Some meters require that there are low (no) piping stresses transferred to the meter body (housing).

Performance may be impaired if this criterion is not followed.

11. Plate, tube, honeycomb, and similar conditioners (flow straighteners) are beneficial for swirling flows.

They may be detrimental if used when distorted profiles are present.

12. If profiles are severely distorted, or swirl flow is persistent, flow conditioners such as Mitsubishi,

Sprenkle, Vortab, Zanker, and so on should be used. Pressure drops should be checked.

13. Entrained gas will affect the accuracy of volumetric liquid measurement and calibration; signal output is

related to total volume, not just liquid phase. Air eliminators are an important consideration in custody

transfer and billing applications. Some liquid mass meters have specific limits on percent gas they can

tolerate (void fraction).

14. Block valves must be leak-tight so that a true no-flow condition is established. Similar requirements exist

for by-pass piping arrangements.

15. The required length of straight upstream pipe increases with the need for accuracy. It also increases with

an increasing Beta-ratio, where that is a factor. It also varies with the type of upstream disturbance and

whether or not the correct flow conditioner is used.